Proper ventilation is key to keeping a mold-free bathroom, but how often do people actually remember to turn on the exhaust fan? Perfect example is my 10 year old son who leaves the bathroom all foggy because he didn’t remember to turn on the fan switch. Apartment owners can probably experience this also, as their tenants frequently leave moldy bathrooms. The times they do remember to turn the fan switch on, they frequently leave it on and forget to turn it off. Either you don’t get the benefit of ventilation, or you waste money. A great way to solve this problem is a bath fan timer.

Timer Settings and OperationBath fan timer switches are a replacement for the light and fan switches that allow for automatic timing of the length of time the exhaust fan runs. The AirCycler SmartExhaust Delay Timer Switch is a popular model that will turn the fan on automatically when the light is turned on. No more flipping two switches. A delay timer setting allows you to specify how long the fan will stay on after turning the light off, while a separate timer setting will make sure the fan operates a certain number of minutes each hour. It comes in both toggle and decora switch formats.

As an example, suppose someone turns on the bathroom light for 5 minutes, with the hourly ventilation set to 20 minutes, and delay timer for 10 minutes. After the person leaves and flips the switch off, the fan will run for the additional 10-minutes delay time, totaling 15 minutes of operation for that hour. The microprocessor in the device will keep track of this and make sure the fan runs for another 5 minutes during that hour.

If you don’t want to have the fan run after a quick visit to the bathroom, just quickly flip it on and off again after turning it off, and it will cancel the delayed start of the fan.

So consider using an exhaust fan timer to make sure your bathroom gets the proper amount of ventilation without having to rely on people to turn the fan switch on and off. Not only will you have a better ventilated and dryer bathroom environment, you’ll also save some money by not leaving the fan on too long.

]]>https://www.conservationmart.com/blog/index.php/bathroom-exhaust-fan-timers-perfect-solution-for-forgetful-people/feed/1Earn LEED and ENERGY STAR points with SmartExhausthttps://www.conservationmart.com/blog/index.php/earn-leed-and-energy-star-points-with-smartexhaust/
https://www.conservationmart.com/blog/index.php/earn-leed-and-energy-star-points-with-smartexhaust/#respondFri, 26 Feb 2016 18:25:08 +0000http://www.conservationmart.com/blog/?p=2962Read More]]>The SmartExhaust bath fan timer introduces a simple, smart, flexible, and economic solution for exhaust ventilation requirements. It is designed as a replacement for the bathroom fan and light switch. By using a microprocessor to monitor and control fan operation, a precise amount of ventilation can be provided.

There are only two settings on the SmartExhaust switch – ventilation and delay. Ventilation is the minutes per hour that you want the fan to operate. Delay is the number of minutes you want the fan to run after the bathroom light has been turned off. The delay time provides additional run time of the fan to complete ventilating the bathroom after use. The SmartExhaust is so smart, you can tell it you don’t need the fan to run when you leave the bathroom. When you turn off the light, turn it back on then back off again within a few seconds it tells the SmartExhaust you don’t want the fan to continue running.

With SmartExhaust, you can earn LEED and ENERGY STAR points for enhanced exhaust ventilation and it makes standard bath fans ASHRE 62.2 compliant.

Humidity, which is moisture in the air, can sometimes be unavoidable. It isn’t only a problem for hair, it can be hazardous to your home, health, and finances. To reduce humidity you need to know where it lives and how to deal with it.

Why humidity is a problem

Humidity breeds mildew, mold, and dust mites, which exasperate breathing conditions like asthma. Worst of all is that you cannot really see mold or dust mites until they become a serious problem. Humidity can also cause areas in the home to rot, a situation that can become a magnet for pests. The expenses that arise from high humidity include health bills, possible mold removal services or home repair, bug/pest control, and higher energy costs from trying to level the humidity with prolonged use of fans and air conditioning.

Where humidity lives

Because heaters work overtime during the winter – bringing in a a mixture of winter weather with the heat – winter months can be the most prosperous for humidity. Regardless of the season, humidity can be at home in the kitchen and bathroom, both areas that are heavily frequented throughout the day.

How to spot humid areas
One clear sign of high humidity is moisture buildup. If you see wet areas/spots on ceilings or walls, you may have a humidity problem. If moisture buildup has been around for a while, there may also be mold.

Reducing humidity

To reduce humidity in the home, properly ventilate. Turning on air conditioning and fans can help, but they add to energy costs. One solution is using a bath fan timer.

Ventilation timers
Ventilation timers work with the HVAC system or exhaust fans in your house to release air at set times. This balances the ventilation in the home and discourages moisture buildup. An added bonus: there’s no need to keep the air conditioning on all day long, which reduces how much energy is used in the home and therefore lowers your energy bill.

What you can do
There are a few ways you can reduce humidity just by making small changes to the way you live, such as:

Taking shorter showers or showering with colder water (probably more convenient during summer months)

The easiest way to save energy (and ultimately money) throughout the home is to regain control of the way the energy is being used. When you ventilate the bathroom, how often do you take into consideration the amount of time that should be spent ventilating, or how much energy is being wasted by over-ventilating? If you’re like most people, these two issues have probably never really crossed your mind. Using a bath fan timer allows you to attack both of these problems head on without giving it another thought.

Ventilation Timing
Experts suggest operating the bathroom fan for no less than 15, and no more than 20 minutes following a shower or bath. In this amount of time, the fan exhausts the moisture out of the room. Having the fan run for more time than this does allow the room to be ventilated, but it also wastes energy, leading to higher energy costs. Operating the exhaust fan for less time than this leads to condensation problems such as molding and rotting. These can inflame respiratory-related health issues including asthma.

Timer Settings and Operation
An exhaust fan timer replaces both the light and fan switches in the bathroom. It has two main settings (ventilation and delay), and the ability to cancel the delay. It uses a microprocessor to watch and control the amount of time the fan is in operation to provide a specific amount of ventilation to the room.

Ventilation Setting – The ventilation setting is the amount of minutes each hour that you would like the fan to be in operation.

Delay Setting – The delay setting is the amount of time you would like to operate the fan after the light has been turned off (this allows the fan to finish the ventilation cycle after the bathroom is no longer occupied).

Cancel Delay – If you don’t want the fan to run after the light has been turned off, simply turn the light back on again within a few seconds. This will tell the timer not to operate the fan after the light has been turned back off.

Once set, the microprocessor recognizes each of the settings and ventilates the bathroom accordingly by subtracting the delay time from the hourly ventilation time. For example, a person enters the bathroom for 5 minutes, with the hourly ventilation set to 20 minutes, and delay for 10 minutes. When unoccupied, the fan will run for the additional 10-minutes delay time, totaling 15 minutes of operation for that hour. The microprocessor will detect this and run the fan for an additional 5 minutes that hour.

If the total time the fan has been run exceeds the 20 minutes that were initially set, the bathroom fan timer will subtract that amount from the 20, and that is how long it will operate in the next hour.

Limiting the amount of energy that is used (in many cases wasted) through bathroom ventilation provides you with more control over both the indoor air quality of the home as well as the amount of energy being consumed. Whenever there is less energy being used in the home, less money spent on energy bills is sure to follow.

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]]>https://www.conservationmart.com/blog/index.php/a-bathroom-fan-timer-helps-ventilate-and-save/feed/2A Fan Light Switch Prevents Molding and Saves Energyhttps://www.conservationmart.com/blog/index.php/a-fan-light-switch-prevents-molding-and-saves-energy/
https://www.conservationmart.com/blog/index.php/a-fan-light-switch-prevents-molding-and-saves-energy/#respondWed, 01 Sep 2010 13:57:32 +0000http://www.conservationmart.com/blog/?p=498Read More]]>How long do you keep the bathroom fan on after taking a shower? If it is on for less than 20 minutes, mold can build up over time, aggravating respiratory problems such as asthma, and creating a displeasing odor. Consider how many times you leave the fan on for more than 20 minutes. While it is important to properly ventilate this area, it is also important to save energy wherever possible. Whether you require a bath fan timer in a home, school, office, or hotel, the fan light switch allows you to do both.
Fan Light Switch

Installing a light and fan switch for the bathroom is as simple as connecting the bathroom light and the exhaust fan to the switch. Most timers include settings that when flipped on, the switch activates the light and exhaust fan. When flipped to the timed position (sometimes referred to as delay), the light will cut off while the fan remains on. Most light fan switches can be adjusted to run the fan for as long as 60 minutes.

Not all bathroom fan timers are made the same. For example, the Intermatic light fan switch is completely manual, similar to a kitchen timer, while the AirCycler light fan switch is digital, offering ventilation and delay settings. With digital timers, flipping the timer to the off position will cut off both the fan and the light. However different they may be, a fan light switch is manufactured for use in a variety of applications, such as with lights, exhaust fans, and heat lamps.

Operating the bathroom exhaust fan allows the room to be clear of moisture, which can cause problems over time. The problem many people run into is that the fan does not run long enough, it runs too long, or the exhaust fan switch is connected to the light switch, cutting both off or keeping both on. A fan light switch which connects to the light switch allows you to properly ventilate the bathroom without wasting energy.